Hebrews 2:14-15

... that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage (RSV).

God, the Author of Life, has the keys to death and hell. He opens and no man shuts, He shuts and no man opens. We can confidently ask Him to open the hearts of the Uzbeks so that they will listen to and understand the word of God.

Pray that He will empower His harvesters to use wisdom as they tell the Uzbek people how to become, “free from the law of sin and death” (See Romans 8:2).

Northern Uzbeks in Tajikistan

by GEC

In the mountains of Tajikistan, a crowd gathers on the level space in a mountain valley. Two teams of 12 men sit atop their horses. A whistle blows. The game of buzkashi begins. The Northern Uzbek crowd cheers for their respective favorites. An official drops the headless body of a goat to the ground in the middle of a circle. The 24 riders create a scrimmage around the goat. One rider plucks the body from the ground and races toward the scoring zone. Anything goes; his opponents employ any tactic to prevent him from reaching the goal; his teammates resort to equally creative means to protect him. Sometimes there are injuries and even death. This is, perhaps, the most violent sport in the world; it seems like a mix of rugby and polo.

This popular Central Asian sport gives us a glimpse of the Uzbek’s national character. Rugged, independent and fiercely competitive, they cling to their version of Sunni Islam.

One scene sticks in the mind: two riders try to hold the goat; each is struggling for control; each wants to score for his own team. One can’t help but picture the spiritual battle raging for the destiny of Northern Uzbeks living in Tajikistan.

Pray for teams who are finishing a Bible translation as they transfer their labors into electronic media. Pray for the distribution of e-versions of the Bible to the Uzbeks in their own language. Pray for evangelistic teams who are taking the JESUS Film to remote villages.